Cassidy blames Democrats for shutdown, jeopardizing SNAP program

On day 28 of the “Chuck Schumer Shutdown,” as he referred to the current government shutdown, U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy voiced his concern for families who depend on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
The government was shut down on Oct. 1 after a failed congressional vote to pass appropriations legislation for the 2026 fiscal year. The Senate has failed to pass the bill 13 times since the beginning of the month. During this time, federal employees have missed paychecks during the furlough, and public services have been affected.
SNAP benefits will be paused on Nov. 1 if the government shutdown continues. This will affect about 80,000 Louisiana residents.
During a phone news conference on Tuesday, Cassidy claimed that Democrats are using “working families as political leverage” during the shutdown.
“Chuck Schumer continues to choose a radical, left-wing base over protecting SNAP benefits, the national flood insurance program, or programs like WIC (Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children),” he said. “You have to ask yourself, what does Senator Schumer think he’s fighting for. And the understanding is that he’s so desperate to avoid a primary from AOC that 13,000 air traffic controllers are going unpaid, while already dealing with staff shortages and outdated equipment.”
Cassidy noted that the NFIP (National Flood Insurance Program) will be another “casualty” of the shutdown.
“I’ve voted to reopen the government, and I’ll continue to do so.”
Cassidy has co-sponsored a bill that will reinstate SNAP benefits during the shutdown, according to a press release.
The Keep SNAP Funded Act would maintain full funding for SNAP during the shutdown. Funding would be appropriated by Congress, while carving out a path for states to get reimbursed by the federal government for any funds used to maintain SNAP benefits during the shutdown.
The bill is being sponsored alongside U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-MO), James Lankford (R-OK), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Susan Collins (R-ME), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Katie Boyd Britt (R-AL), John Cornyn (R-TX) and Jon Husted (R-OH).